This blog is meant to display my coins/currency notes/stamps, in an informative manner, which would be useful to users in knowing about the history of the period when these coins/banknotes/stamps were minted/printed and events/persons they honour/depict, both on Indian and foreign coins/banknotes/stamps. The content would be more in the nature of a walk down memory lane through my collection/articles.

He was born
into a well-to-do Bengali family in Cuttack (Orissa, India) on 23.01.1897. His
father was a Public Prosecutor and he had his early education in prestigious
Educational Institutions, both in India and in England viz., Scottish Church
College, Calcutta(present day Kolkata), which was affiliated to the Calcutta
University and Fitzwilliam College at Cambridge University. There is a famous
incident, when, while studying at Presidency College, Calcutta, he was expelled
for assaulting his British Professor for making derogatory anti-Indian remarks.

Participation in India’s Freedom
struggle:

He joined
the prestigious Indian Civil Services (ICS), securing fourth position in the
Entrance examination, but was very keen to participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement which was
raging like a fire across the length and Breath of India, at Mahatma Gandhi’s
call. He was deeply moved by the British atrocities in the Jallianwalla Bagh
massacre and dropped his Indian Civil Services Apprenticeship midway to return
to India in 1921.

He was
strongly influenced by Swami Vivekananda’s teachings and was known for his
patriotic zeal even as a student.

An
accomplished orator and having distinguished leadership qualities/skills, he
joined the Youth Wing of the Indian National Congress party and swiftly moved
up in the party hierarchy. As the leader of the Youth Wing of the Indian
National Congress Party (INC), he was in the forefront of the Trade Union
Movement in India for which activity he organized the “Service League”.

He worked with
Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das whom he looked upon as his political mentor/guide/guru.
He became the Editor of the newspaper “Forward” which was founded by
Chittaranjan Das and also took up assignment as the Chief of the Municipal
Corporation of Calcutta when Chittaranjan Das was elected Mayor of Calcutta in
1924.

The first
time when he went to prison was in 1921 itself shortly after his participation
in the Civil Disobedience Movement. Over the next two decades since he joined
India’s Freedom struggle, he was imprisoned by the British India Government
eleven times for his outspokenness against the British Rule in India. During
1924, he was exiled to Mandalay in Burma.

In 1928,
the Motilal Nehru Committee propounded the concept of giving India a “Dominion
status”, which was strongly opposed by Subhas Chandra Bose along with other
leaders who favoured nothing less than complete Independence for India. At the
historic Lahore Convention of the INC, the INC adopted the motto “Poorna
Swaraj” (complete freedom), as its motto largely due to his initiative.To
achieve this end, he, also, announced the formation of the “Independence League”.

In 1930, he
was elected Mayor of Calcutta. He was arrested and imprisoned for his
anti-British agitation and oratory, but later released in 1931 after the
Gandhi-IrwinPact was
signed. He protested against the Gandhi-Irwin Pact and wanted the Civil
Disobedience Movement to continue, particularly, after Shaheed Bhagat Singh and
his friends were martyred. He was rearrested after he protested against the
infamous Bengal Regulation, and was deported to Europe where he stayed from
1933 to 1936. Even in Europe, he initiated measures to develop cultural ties
between various European countries and India as he envisioned it.

In 1937 he
was married to his former Secretary Emillie Schenkl.

He returned
to India defying the ban on his re-entry into the country and was promptly
rearrested by the British India Government and jailed for a year.

Shortly
afterwards, he was elected to the post of President of the Indian National
Congress twice – in 1937 and 1939 (in the second instance defeating Gandhiji’s
nominee, Pattabhi Sitaramayya). In 1939,
he introduced a Resolution before the INC that a period of six months should be
allowed to the British to hand over the reins of the Government in India to
Indians failing which there would be a Revolt. Following irreconcilable
differences on several issues, including this one, with Mahatma Gandhi, he
resigned his position as President of the INC and formed a separate political
entity called the ‘Forward Bloc”.

At the Head of the “Azad Hind
Fauj”(Indian National Army):

He launched
another Civil Disobedience Movement when
the then Viceroy committed the Indian Nations resources to the Allied War
effort during World War II in 1939 against the Axis Forces. He was imprisoned
and later placed under House Arrest.

He was
helped by his cousin brother Sishir Bose to escape and travelling through several
war-hit countries, he reached Germany. Here, in Berlin, he made regular radio
broadcasts for arousing sentiment in India for overthrowing the British Rule.
He wanted to enlist the help of the Nazi Leadership on the premise that “an
enemy’s enemy is a friend”, however, he was disappointed with the indifferent attitude
of Hitler and the Nazi leadership , but later, found that Japan was willing to
help him in his war-effort against the British Government in India , and helped
train and arm the Indian National Army (INA) or the “Azad Hind Fauj” created by Rash Behari Bose which was mainly
raised in Singapore from Indian Prisoners of War (POWs) captured by the
Japanese. Netaji coined the legendary motto for his troops during a rally at
Burma in July 1944 - “Tum Mujhe Khoon Do; Main Tumhe Azadi Doonga” (Give me
Blood and I will give you Freedom). A Provisional Government by the name of
“Azad Hind Government” was constituted on 21st October 1943. His
other famous slogans are “Dilli Chalo” (onwards to Delhi – while rallying his
troops for battle), “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Jai Hind” (Glory/Victory to India),
the latter having been adopted by the Indian Armed forces and Govt. of India
for their official salute.

The INA (which
at one time had more than 85000 regular soldiers within its ranks, including a
separate unit for women called the “Rani of Jhansi Regiment”, met with limited successes,
liberating the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from the British and then
spearheading armed action in Manipur, Nagaland in the North-East, but with the
War going against the Japanese, he retreated to Malaya when it was clear that
the war effort of the INA would not succeed in liberating India from British
Rule.

Unconfirmed Death and Legacy:

He is said
to have passed away in a plane crash over Taiwan while flying to Tokyo on 18th
August 1945 (Two years before India became Independent. He was affectionately
called “Netaji” (Respected Leader of the people). Though Mahatma Gandhi (who fell to an assassin’s bullets) was
credited with a major contribution in securing India’s Freedom , nevertheless,
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s contribution to India’s Freedom struggle was in no
way less than Gandhiji’s or Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s and till today , the
efforts/exploits of the Indian National
Army and Netaji commitment and
sacrifices to the cause of Indian Independence are remembered with pride by
every Indian and Netaji has acquired an almost legendary status in the struggle
for Indian Independence.

Although,
there remains a controversy whether he had actually passed away in the plane
crash over Taiwan (Formosa) in August 1945 or it was a ploy to remain
incognito, to avoid persecution and harassment by the British Government, the issue
is a matter of much debate, several commissions have investigated into the
issue of his alleged passing away and several films/movies having been made on
the controversy.

The
infamous Red Fort trials of INA Generals and Officers met with country-wide
protests against any punishments being meted out to them, when it was realized
by patriotic Indians, that the INA was a full fledged “Nationalist Fighting
Force” committed to Indian Independence, inspired by Netaji’s vision. Faced
with an open rebellion within the country, the British Government declared a
general amnesty for all the INA personnel.

Subhas’s
name and exploits are mentioned in many legends , that are carried by the
Freedom Fighters and the soldiers/personnel who fought with him in the INA, and
his memory lives on eternally in Indian patriotism.

A chair
belonging to Netaji is on display as a National Heritage in the Red Fort at
Delhi.

Birth Centenary celebrations/Commemoration:

The Reserve
Bank of India, to commemorate the birth centenary of Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose, has brought out a two rupee coin in 1997 to celebrate for general
circulation. (Also, a Proof/uncirculated set of three coins in the denomination
of 100, 50 and 10 rupees was brought out for the occasion).

The coin
issued for general circulation is made of Cupro-Nickel (CN), having 75% Copper
and 25% Nickel content. It is hendecagonal (11 sided) in shape and has a
diameter of 26mm and weight of 6gms.

The obverse
of the coin has the Lion Capital in the centre together with the words
“Satyameva Jayate” (Truth always Prevails) which together form the emblem/Coat
of Arms of India. The numeral “2” denoting the denomination of the coin is
below the emblem. On the left periphery are the words “Bharat” and “Rupiye” in
Hindi and on the right periphery are the words “India” and “Rupees” in English.

On the
reverse of the coin is a portrait/image of Netaji, with his name “Subhas
Chandra Bose” spelt out both in Hindi and English. The words “Janamshati” in
Hindi and “Centenary” in English are also engraved on the coin. This coin was
minted at Mumbai mint. Notice the “diamond” mint mark below the year of issue,
1997.

Posted on 23.01.2017:

Today is the 120th Anniversary of the birth of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. @Don Toxique (on Twitter) has sent me an image of the following First Day Cover (FDC) issued on 23.01.1964:

The picture on the left hand bottom is that of INA soldiers marching in formation, enthused in their resolve for an armed struggle against the British occupation of India with the emblem of the INA with its motto on a scroll below the logo "Ittefaq, Ethad, Kurbani". On the top right are two stamps of the denomination of 15 Naye Paise and 55 Naya Paise both depicting Netaji with a firm commitment to the cause of Indian Iindependence. The Cancellation hand-stamp is of Netaji Bhawan, Calcutta (present day Kolkata) and is dated "23.01.1964"

About Me

I am Rajeev Prasad, a retired State Bank of India officer who had been collecting coins in a shoe box without having a serious interest. Only after quitting my job I got the time to take serious interest in developing my coin collection into a hobby. A pity, because I would have had more opportunity to lay my hands on more 'exclusive coins' while in the Bank. Anyway, as they say,better late than never. If you have any views to share with me regarding this blog , please contact me on my email rajeevprasad1208@gmail.com. I also have a twitter account @prasad_rajeev.
I had an opportunity to participate in a Documentary on the life and times of the 25 paise coin titled “Chal Basi Chavanni” (The four anna/twenty five paise coin passes away), aired by STAR NEWS on 29th and 30th June 2011. The programme helped in making many persons hold back onto their “chavannis”, the little round beauties, instead of returning them to Banks .